Henry Osmundson (1853-1932)

OSMUNDSON, MYRAH, KUNZMAN, TESDELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/15/2023 at 19:25:32

From The Slater News April 13, 1932 (page 4)

OBITUARY OF HENRY OSMUNDSON

Henry Osmundson was born May 6th, 1853, at Etne, Norway. He grew to young manhood in the same community. At the age of 17 years, in 1870, he came to America. His marriage to Betsy Myrah took place in 1876. To this union were born six children, five of whom are still living.

A blacksmith by trade he worked in that capacity in different towns, starting with Sheldahl. He lived at Badger, Roland, Cambridge and Huxley and later at Slater where he built a house in 1897 and located with family. He was in business at Perry a while after which he returned to Slater, going to Minneapolis a few years ago where he operated a flatbro factory.

Mr. Osmundson was of an inventive frame of mind and in the course of his blacksmith work he manufactured several articles which was climaxed with the building of the Osmundson Spade Factory at Perry which is still in operation, owned and managed by his son, Howard. Their chief product at this time being the Osmundson Cultivator Shovels.

After is return from Perry he experimented with the making of a Norwegian food, "Flatbro," on a small scale. His equipment, crude at first, was improved to a point where he could make it on a larger scale. Minneapolis, being the center of a large Scandinavian population, he wisely chose to locate there. His confidence in the venture was never shaken as it proved a success from the start and the product grew in popularity so fast that two similar factories have sprung up in the city, making the same article.

Mr. Osmundson attained an age 79 years. He is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. They are Ed of Roland, George of Forest City and Howard of Perry; Mrs. Vina Kunzman of San Pedro, Cal., and Mrs. Sanford Tesdell of southeast of Slater. Also one brother, Christ Osmundson, of Webster City, thirteen grandchildren and many other relatives and many friends.